Caucasian Shepherd Dog puppies

About the Caucasian Shepherd Dog

The Caucasian Shepherd Dog is a mountain livestock guardian from the Caucasus, bred to live out with flocks and see off wolves without a handler present. Everything about them reflects that: heavy bone, a broad head, a thick weatherproof double coat, a range of 44.9 to 77.1 kg and 58 to 76 cm at the shoulder. At home they are quieter than people expect, slow moving and undramatic, but they make their own decisions about who belongs on their ground and who does not.

Exercise needs are moderate, mostly long steady walks and hikes, always on lead or inside serious fencing. The coat needs regular brushing and drops heavily when it changes. This dog suits an experienced owner with land, secure boundaries and a genuine reason to keep a guardian breed. They are a bad fit for flats, frequent visitors and households with lots of other pets. Do not let their calm fool you into thinking they are easy going: start socialisation and containment early, before any problem appears.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Caucasian Shepherd Dog puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A giant breed puppy at eight weeks is already heavy and will keep growing for up to two years. Controlled growth matters more here than in any other size class, so a large breed specific puppy food and no overfeeding. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Hip and elbow dysplasia, screened by hip and elbow evaluation of breeding stock
• Bloat and gastric torsion, a surgical emergency in deep chested dogs
• Entropion, an inward rolling eyelid that rubs the cornea, found on an eye exam and corrected surgically
• Cardiac disease, screened by a cardiac exam on breeding stock
• Obesity and joint strain during growth, managed by measured feeding and controlled exercise while the dog matures

Your Caucasian Shepherd Dog puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Giant for a Caucasian Shepherd Dog.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 44.9 to 77.1 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 48 inch (48 x 30 x 32 in, 122 x 76 x 81 cm) for an adult of up to 77.1 kg, the largest size in the chart, which tops out at 49.9 kg, so measure the dog before you buy; chew toys made for large breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Do slow feeder bowls work? Choosing one for a puppy that gulps
• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other giant breeds

Previous: Catalan Sheepdog · Next: Cavachon

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from Caucasian Shepherd Dog breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/caucasian-shepherd-dog/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Pleple2000, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.